Gerry Weiss: Rabbit is rock star in my house

I know you passed away 70 years ago, but I'm desperate and in dire need of some help.

When you wrote and illustrated "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" in 1902, it was an imaginative book featuring animals that would one day become a classic.

Fast-forward to 2013.

On television (I'll explain television later), broadcast by the cable channel Nickelodeon (I'll explain cable later, too), "Peter Rabbit" is a fun preschool series with slick, computer-generated animation.

My 2-year-old daughter is a huge fan of the show.

Scratch that.

She is obsessed.

Nora has basically ditched Little Einsteins, Dora the Explorer, and -- gasp! -- all things Elmo for the brave bunny.

Don't get me wrong. My child does plenty of reading, learns a ton at day care, and is encouraged by me and her mother to do anything and everything athletic and artsy.

But Nora's morning routine, which sometimes begins before 6 a.m., includes a cup of milk, some breakfast, and TV time in order for her working parents to get the day started and get out of the house.

Other shows, which I record on DVR throughout the week, used to be in Nora's rotation. It was a nice mix.

No longer. The words "Peter Rabbit" have become my kid's favorites.

I know there are plenty of problem-solving and educational goals in the show. But Peter, sorry to say, is a bit of a thieving, up-to-no-good troublemaker.

What kind of example is that for my little girl? Is Nora soon going to be sneaking vegetables out of the neighbor's garden?

That might be tough to explain to the friendly folks on our block.

So you see, Miss Potter, the central character in your charming English tales from a century ago, now freshly re-imagined in high definition, has become a bona fide rock star to my toddler.

I think Nora needs an intervention. A "Peter Rabbit" Anonymous support group.

Twelve steps, I fear, wouldn't be enough.

It actually makes sense that my daughter gravitated to this rowdy rabbit.

Both are equal parts fearless and mischievous, both are clever and funny, and both haven't met an obstacle they couldn't climb, leap or vault over.

But due to the mere handful of "Peter Rabbit" episodes we have at our disposal, and the fact that Nora couldn't care less as she giddily watches them over and over, I am growing a bit weary of Squirrel Nutkin, Jemima Puddle-Duck, and Mr. Tod, the highbrow fox that is Peter's nemesis.

I'm sure I'll figure it out, Beatrix, and my daughter will one day likely move on from your iconic creation to something else.

And hey, it could be worse, right?

(Insert Barney joke here.)

I'll explain the annoying purple dinosaur some other time.

GERRY WEISS can be reached at 870-1884. Send e-mail to gerry.weiss@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNweiss.